Spike.



J, R. MORRIS. v SPIKE. I APPLIUATION FILED HAY 12, 1910.

Patented June 6, 1911.

Jo/m R. Mar/ 5.

55 v formed steps or shoulders 6 which actas JOHN R. MORRIS, or wA'rEnLoo, IOWA.

SPIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 12, 1910. Serial No. 560,944.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. MORRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVaterloo, in the county of Blackhawk and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spikes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to l which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in spikes.

One object of the invention is to provide a spike having formed therein a series of longitudinally disposed spiral grooves or threads whereby when the spike is driven the same will revolve and thus screw its way into a tie or other object.

Another object is to-provide a spike of this character having means to prevent the casual unscrewing or loosening of the spike.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrange ment of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a side view of a spike constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the top or outer end of the Fig. 5 is a side view of the improved spike showing the same provided with the common or ordinary form of railway spike head.

In the embodiment of the invention as shown in the accompanying drawings 1 denotes the body portion of my improved spike which is cylindrical in shape and ma be of any suitable size and length. The bo y portion 1 of the spike is provided with a series of spiral grooves l which form a series of spiral threads 5 which when the spike is driven into a tie or other object causes the s ike to revolve thus screwing its way into t e tie. There may be any desired number of grooves and spiral threads formed on the body portion of the spike the latter being here shown as having formed therein four grooves and threads.

In each of the grooves 4 and prefegrably arranged at different horizontal lanes are stops to assist in holding the spike against:

casual loosening or removal from the tie or other object in which the same is driven. At the upper end of the spike and on one side thereof is formed a vertical radially projecting key 7 which when the spike -is driven in to the proper distance is adapted to enter the tie or spike is driven thus forming an additional lock for holding the spike against casual unscrewing. I

On the upper end of the spike is formed a head which is shown in the first four figures of the drawing as consisting of an annular radially project-ing flange 8 having outwardly inclined upper and lower sides. The flange or projection 8 of the head is adapted to engage the flange of the rail-orother object to be held by the spike. On the upper side of the flanged head 8 is formed an extension 9 with which is adapted to be engaged a wrench or similar tool for the purpose of unscrewing the spike from the tie when it is desired to remove or extract the spike. The key 7 while of sufiicient width to hold the spike against casual loosening orunscrewing is not sufiicientto prevent the unscrewing of the spike by a wrench when sufficient power is applied thereto.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings the spike'is shown as being provided with the ordinary or common form of spike head '10 which is engaged with the flange of the rail or with any other object in the usual manner. The

spike shown in Fig. 5 with the exception constructed in the same of the head 10 is manner as the spike ures of the drawings.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention as defined inthe appended claims.

shown in the first fig- Having thus described my invention, what I claim 1s:

1. A spike comprising a'cylindrical body portion having therein aplurality of spiral grooves arranged to form a series threads,

in said grooves to hold the spike against Patented'June o, 1911.

other object in which the of spiral. a series of stop shoulders formed and a head formed on the upper end n v, a

casual unscrewing or loosening when driven, off said spike.

2-. A spike eo nnrising a. cylindrical body portion having a plurality'oi spiral grooves arranged to form a plurality of spiral threads, stop boulders formed in sa d grooves, a radially projecting key formed on one side of the spike at its upper end, said stop shoulders and. key being provided to hold the spike ing after being driven, and a head formed. on the upper end of said spike.

3. A. spike eoinprisii'ig a cylindrical body portion having a plurality of spiral grooves arranged to form a plurality of spiral against unscrewing or loosenthreads stop shoulders formed in said grooves, a key formed on one side of the spike at its upper end, a head formed on the upper end of said spike, said head comprisin; an annular radially projecting flange, and means whereby a Wrench may be applied to said head for the purpose of unscrewing the spike.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Wit- HQSSBS.

JOHN R. MORRIS.

Witnesses A. N. MGCREARY, M. B. NEFF. 

